Salvia ‘SSLRO09-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Salvia cultivar named ‘SSLRO9-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a very compact plant form, early flowering and abundant rose pink colored flowers. The new variety is a Salvia nemorosa, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Salvia nemorosa.

Variety denomination: ‘SSLRO9-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Steve Jones. The new variety originated from a cross-pollination of an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Salvia nemorosa with another an unnamed, unpatented proprietary variety of Salvia nemorosa. The crossing was made in August 2017 at a commercial greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in November 2017, at a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ by terminal vegetative cuttings was first performed in February 2018, at a research greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SSLRO9-0’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SSLRO9-0’ as a new and distinct Salvia cultivar:

-   1. Rose pink flower color. -   2. Very compact plant form. -   3. Abundant flowering. -   4. Early flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety is a more compact plant than the seed parent. -   2. The new variety has larger flowers than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ differ in the following:

-   1. The new variety has rose pink flowers, compared to violet flowers     of the pollen parent. -   2. The new variety begins flowering earlier than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SSLRO9-0’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Salvia ‘Sensation Deep Rose’, unpatented. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however ‘SSLRO9-0’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety is more compact and produces more branches than     this comparator. -   2. The new variety has larger individual flowers than this     comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SSLRO9-0’ grown in a greenhouse, in Santa Paula, Calif., in a commercial 35 cm container. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SSLRO9-0’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 10° C. to 30° C. The greenhouse is un-shaded, giving bright, normal sunlight conditions. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Salvia nemorosa ‘SSLRO9-0’ Swifty Rose     Multiflora.

PROPAGATION

-   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous. Colors include RHS     Yellow-White 158D and Orange-White 159C. Grey-Brown 199A and 199B     for older roots.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright and mounding. Compact. -   Pot size of plant described: 40 cm diameter pot. -   Height: Approximately 16 cm to top of foliage. Approximately 30 cm     to top of flowering plane. Measured from soil level of pot. -   Plant spread: Approximately 55 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Well branched. Average 4 branches     emerging from a pinch, which branch into another 4 primary lateral     branches. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 8 cm, then forming     more branches. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: About 40 to 48. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent and ribbed. -   Internode length: Average range 1.5 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 25 weeks from 5 rooted     cuttings.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Average range 10 to 14 fully expanded per main             branch.         -   Average length.—Average range 5.3 to 6.2 cm. including             petiole.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Narrow deltoid to oblong.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Matte, glabrous. Shallow reticulate.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, glabrous, reticulate.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 138B.         -   Venation.—Type: Reticulate. Venation color upper side: Near             RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Petiole.—Average Length: Average range 0.2 to 0.4 cm.             Occasionally 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering from early Spring through late     Summer. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Flowers arranged in verticillasters on     spikes. -   Flower longevity on plant: Individual flowers last approximately 7     to 10 days on the plant. Each spike lasts approximately 4 to 6 weeks     with flowers. Corolla self-cleaning, calyx persistent. -   Quantity of flowers: About 30 to 48 fully flowers per spike. Mature     plants have approximately 30 to 50 spikes. -   Spike size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Height.—Average range 6.0 to 12.0 cm. -   Individual flowers: -   Size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Fragrance: Moderately strong musty scent. -   Corolla:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—The corolla is sympetalous and typically             bilabiate with 2 small, fully fused lobes forming a single             upper lip and 3 larger fused lobes forming a lower lip.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Upper lip tip obtuse, lower lip tip retuse.         -   Length.—Upper lip Approximately 0.8 cm. Lower lip             Approximately 0.6 cm. Tube length Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Width.—Upper lip: Approximately 0.5 cm, lower lip             Approximately 0.6 cm. Tube width: Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper lip: Glabrous all surfaces. Lower lip:             Glabrous all surfaces. -   Color: Upper Lip:     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73C. Apex             Red-Purple 71A. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D             flushed N74C. Apex Red-Purple 71A.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73D flushed             N74D. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D.         -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75D. Outer surface:             Near RHS Purple 75C flushed N74D. -   Color: Lower Lip:     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 73C. Thin             margin Red-Purple 71C. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple             73C. Thin margin Red-Purple 71C.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74C. Outer             surface: Near RHS Red-Purple N74D.         -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS Purple 75D. Outer surface:             Near RHS Purple 75C flushed N74D. -   Color: Tube:     -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS White N155D. Outer             surface: Near RHS White N155D.         -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS White N155D. Outer             surface: Near RHS White N155D.         -   Fading.—Inner surface: Near RHS White N155D. Outer surface:             Near RHS White N155D. -   Bud: Flower bud includes immature calyx which completely surrounds     immature corolla.     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 72C. -   Calyx:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Tubular. -   Sepals:     -   -   Shape.—Quantity per flower: 3, fused to form a tube. Unfused             apex.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm unfused portion.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Texture.—Softly pubescent.         -   Color.—Immature: Near RHS Green 138A flushed Purple N79C.             Mature: Near RHS Green 138A, apex lightly flushed Purple             77A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average range 1 to 2.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.         -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 15 degree angle from             center of plant.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Softly pubescent, ridged. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Average 0.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A flushed Purple N79C.         -   Orientation.—Straight, approximately 45 degree angle from             attachment.         -   Strength.—Flexible.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—2.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Red-Purple N74D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Purple N79B.         -   Pollen.—Scant pollen observed, colored near RHS Purple N77D. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.7 cm. Color: Near RHS             Red-Purple 73D, upper section 73C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Forked. Color: Near RHS Red-Purple 71A.             Ovary: Colored near RHS Green-White 157A, oblong,             approximately 0.2 cm long and 0.2 in diameter.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Salvia nemorosa have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures within     USDA zones 3 to 9. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Salvia plant named ‘SSLRO9-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 